District News
21 Seattle schools win Washington Achievement Awards
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the State Board of Education (SBE) have announced that 186 schools across the state will be honored with 2011 Washington Achievement Awards. The list includes 21 Seattle schools recognized for their performance on the Achievement Index, a comprehensive measurement of Washington schools’ performance over time. The award-winning schools will be honored during a ceremony on April 25 at Mariner High School in Everett.
“We are very proud of our award-winning schools,” said Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield. “The Washington Achievement Award is highly selective and measures a school’s continuous improvement over the course of several years. I am particularly proud that Seattle’s number of award-winning schools increased to 21 this year, up from 13 schools recognized in 2010 and seven recognized in 2009.”
The Washington Achievement Award is given to elementary, middle, high, and comprehensive schools in eight different categories: overall excellence, overall excellence for gifted programs, and special recognition for outstanding achievement in the following subcategories: language arts, math, science, extended graduation rate (high and comprehensive schools only), improvement, and closing the achievement gap. Some schools are honored in more than one of these categories.
Overall Excellence – Elementary. Eight schools were recognized for overall excellence at the elementary level: Frantz Coe, John Hay, John Stanford International School, Loyal Heights, Maple, McGilvra, Montlake, and West Woodland.
Overall Excellence – Multilevel, Middle, and High Schools. Five schools were recognized for overall excellence at the K-8, 6-8, or 9-12 levels: Catharine Blaine K-8, Mercer Middle School, Madison Middle School, Ballard High School, and The Center School.
Special Recognition – Math. Mercer Middle School was also recognized for outstanding achievement in math.
Special Recognition – Science. Four schools were recognized for outstanding achievement in science: Loyal Heights Elementary, Montlake Elementary, Madison Middle School, and Mercer Middle School.
Special Recognition – Graduation Rate. The Nova Project was recognized for outstanding achievement in extended graduation rate.
Special Recognition – Improvement. Eight schools were recognized for outstanding improvement: Pinehurst K-8 School, Denny International Middle School, Madison Middle School, Chief Sealth High School, Franklin High School, Middle College High School, South Lake High School, and The Center School.
Special Recognition - Closing the Achievement Gap. Three schools were recognized for their work closing the achievement gap: Alki Elementary School, Ballard High School, and The Nova Project.
“We are so proud of the hard work of our principals, teachers, staff, students, and families in these school communities,” Enfield said. “Congratulations on this extraordinary achievement. We are very proud of our schools and look forward to continued success.”